Manufacturing is a game changer

Today’s world of modern manufacturing is high tech, automated, within clean environments, with a combination of talented individuals with varying skills and professions.

Viera Voice Courtesy of the EDC

In Brevard, the largest contributor to our local economy is manufacturing. Today’s world of modern manufacturing is high tech, automated, within clean environments, with a combination of talented individuals with varying skills and professions. However, nationally 84 percent of manufacturers reported a shortage of available qualified workers. This challenge echoes on the Space Coast, and with 3,000 job openings expected locally in this field by 2022, manufacturers are seeking that talented workforce who are willing to expand their skills.

In manufacturing, there are many pathways to advancement. Job tenure is ranked high, and wages continue to be higher than the overall national average. Outside options, such as the increasingly recognized CPT (Certified Production Technician) program, are providing the skills and knowledge to take a career in manufacturing even further.

Manufacturing is a game changer for many.
Modern manufacturing is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career; and manufacturing careers are ranked #2 for job tenure and job stability, with wages 21 percent higher than the national average. A career in manufacturing is a solid choice. And there is high demand; over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed in the U.S., with 2 million jobs expected to potentially go unfilled due to a skills gap.

In Brevard, there is yet another advantage.The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC), with the support of community partners, offers scholarships to help candidates get started in a manufacturing career. This scholarship can lead to the Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential, which is quickly gaining respect among U.S. manufacturers and is widely recognized across Brevard County. The online CPT course takes just 10 weeks, and the next class begins in June.